4 Ways to Recover Lost Files from External Hard Drive on Mac

Have you ever been frustrated by the mysterious disappearance of data from your Mac external hard drive? You're not alone. It can be quite annoying when data goes missing from an external hard drive on your Mac.

As tech users, we understand the pain this can cause. That's why we've listed four surefire strategies to ensure you find and recover lost data. Solutions range from powerful software like the Data Recovery Wizard tool for Mac Pro to the Disk Utility feature on your Mac.

Please read this comprehensive data recovery guide carefully, as we will provide in-depth insights and step-by-step instructions to help you effortlessly reclaim your lost files from an external hard drive on your Mac. Let's delve into the details!

Solution 1: Recover Disappeared Files from External Hard Drive on Mac with Software

It can be frustrating to find out that your files are not showing on the external hard drive on Mac. Fortunately, we offer a reliable way to recover the missing files that have suddenly disappeared.

The easiest and most effective way is to use professional data recovery software, such as Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. This innovative tool features powerful data scanning capabilities that can uncover hidden, formatted, or lost files on an external hard drive, ensuring a high success rate for your external hard drive recovery.

Download this powerful file recovery software and follow the instructions below to learn the entire process and unlock the full potential of the recovery tool.

Step 1: Search for the Lost File

Connect the external hard drive to your Mac correctly. Launch the Disk Drill data recovery wizard, select the external drive, and then click “Search for lost data” to find missing or deleted files on the external device.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of the external hard drive to prevent further data loss. After backing up the external hard drive, the software can recover data from the backup of the external hard drive. You can then safely remove the external hard drive and use it again.

Step 2: Filter and locate the lost file

Once the scan is done, all file types will be displayed on the left panel. Select the file type to find the required files from the external device.

Step 3: Preview and recover

Preview the files and select the ones you want to restore, then hit the “Recover” button. You can save your data to both local and cloud drives.

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Solution 2: Recover Disappeared Files from External Hard Drive via Mac Trash If you accidentally moved the files to the Mac's Trash, you can try recovering the lost files from there. Here's how: 1. Connect your external hard drive to your Mac. 2. Open Finder (usually located in the Dock). 3. In the left sidebar of Finder, select "Trash." 4. Search for your external hard drive files within the Trash contents. 5. Once you find the file, right-click on it and choose "Put Back" or simply drag it back to its original location. Please note that if you have emptied the Trash, the files may be permanently deleted. In this case, you'll need to use professional data recovery software to attempt recovery.

When your data on external hard drive for Mac disappears for no reason, a simple and effective solution is to check the "Trash". To attempt to recover your lost files, follow these steps:

Step 1: On your Mac desktop, click the Trash icon.

Step 2: Look for missing files in the Trash. If you find any, select them and choose Put Back.

Click on “Put Back”.

Step 3. After recovering the data from the trash, check your external hard drive. The recovered files should be back in their original locations.

Keep in mind that files moved to the Trash stay there until you empty it. This can be useful if you accidentally deleted a file from the Trash. If this doesn't work, consider other options for recovering deleted files from an external hard drive on a Mac.

Solution 3: Show Disappeared Files from External Hard Drive in Mac Finder

Files on an external hard drive may not be permanently deleted; they could just be hidden. You can recover them in the Finder by following these steps:

Step 1. Open the “Finder” app on your Mac.

Step 2: In the left sidebar, find and check the box next to your external hard drive.

Step 3: Press "Command + Shift + ." After a few seconds, hidden files will appear on your external hard drive. Your missing files will be displayed in gray on the right-hand side of the screen, and you can open them easily.

You may be able to recover lost data by revealing hidden files. If that doesn't work, consider other methods of retrieving vanished data from your external hard drive on a Mac.

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Solution 4: Use First Aid to Repair an External Hard Drive on Mac

Sometimes, files disappearing from your MacBook is not an issue with the operating system but rather due to a damaged external hard drive. If your external hard drive might be damaged, the built-in Disk Utility's First Aid feature can help repair it. Disk Utility can fix errors such as system crashes, missing files, and unusual behavior of an external drive.

Here are the steps to repair an external hard drive using Disk Utility:

Step 1: Open Disk Utility on your Mac. You can find it in the Utilities folder inside Applications, or search for it with Spotlight.

Step 2: Select your external hard drive from the list of drives on the left.

Step 3: Click the "First Aid" button in the top toolbar.

Click “First Aid” in Disk Utility:

4. Choose Run or Verify Disk to check for problems, and then choose Repair Disk if errors are found.

Step 5. Wait for Disk Utility to finish verifying and repairing the hard drive. This can take some time, depending on the size of the drive and the severity of the problem. When it's done, check your external hard drive to see if your deleted files have been restored.

The “First Aid” feature of Disk Utility might be able to fix small issues with an external hard drive and potentially recover lost data. If that doesn't work, try one of the other methods described above to recover your lost data on a Mac.

Conclusion

For Mac users, losing data from an external hard drive can be a nerve-wracking situation. This article has outlined four proven data recovery methods, ranging from sophisticated software solutions to built-in system functions. You might consider downloading the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro tool, which offers a user-friendly interface and powerful scanning capabilities for an all-encompassing data recovery solution.

By combining these strategies, users can increase their chances of successfully retrieving lost files and preserving the integrity of their external hard drive. Download our data recovery software now for a reliable and practical data retrieval experience.

FAQs on Files Disappearing from External Hard Drive on Mac

If you're troubled by the disappearance of files from your Mac external hard drive, you might have some questions. Let's address some common ones:

Files can go missing due to accidental deletion, hidden settings, or damage to an external disk. These situations can make your files difficult to find, but you can easily recover them with our methods.

< b > 2. Why can't I see my Mac files on an external hard drive?

Hidden files, system issues, or damage can cause files to become invisible. Changing settings or using recovery tools might help.

3. How to recover files from an external hard drive on a Mac?

Utilize renowned data recovery software, such as the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, to scan and retrieve deleted files from your external hard drive. This facilitates an effortless and efficient recovery of your Mac.